CRYSTAL Palace fan Zoe Messenbird urges her fellow supporters to leave their Glenn Murray worship to one side and get behind new boy Kevin Doyle...
So the transfer window has closed, or 'slammed shut' as Sky Sports like to stress with irritating assertiveness. A young English left back with a point to prove in Zeki Fryers has arrived from Tottenham, and KG has finally been replaced with the impressive capture of James McArthur from Wigan.
Both of these deals represent good business, and along with the signings of Wilf Zaha, Brede Hangeland, Martin Kelly and Chris Kettings, you'd be entitled to consider the window a success; we even managed to sort out new deals for club legend Julian Speroni and Yannick Bolasie. Unfortunately, the talking point among Palace fans late into the night on deadline day was Glenn Murray's departure to Reading and Kevin Doyle's arrival from Wolves.
The problem is that most fans are viewing Doyle and Murray's transfers as a combined entity – Glenn Murray, the man that notched 31 times in our promotion season is farmed out to Reading while Kevin Doyle, a man who failed to force his way into Wolves' League One team is his replacement? That's madness isn't it? Well in my opinion, maybe not…
Firstly, I am not delighted by the signing of Kevin Doyle. It didn't have me lavishing praise on the owners, nor did it set out much of a statement of intent to other watching clubs. However any potential negativity I may have had towards this signing is offset by the fact that there is no guarantee that Murray would cut it at this level. I don't see it as black and white as a Premier League goal scorer out, and a failed striker in, because in my eyes, that's not an accurate comparison.
Yes, I would rather have given Murray the chance as fourth choice striker than Doyle, but this has happened, and I am willing to support Doyle when he is called upon. Incidentally, Murray asked to leave, and Doyle has international experience and proven, all-be-it sometime ago, that he can perform at this level. My only real criticism is that despite having secured survival in April, essential business was still being done at the very last minute, with our options up front arguably weaker this season than they were last year.
Despite the apprehension shown by many towards Doyle, once he pulls on a Palace shirt and puts his first shift in, those fans that were apoplectic on social media will be saying 'As fourth choice he looks OK, he looks a good option from the bench and he has good experience…' I've seen it all before…
